Punk, is believing what you what to believe. Punk is going against the world. Punk is not caring who stares at you says "OH MY, WHAT AN AWFUL PERSON THAT MUST BE!". Punk is feeling what you want to feel, being who you want to be, punk is being somebody.

Punk is not what you see television! Or hear on the radio. Or read about in books or magazines! Punk is not about being like all the guys with mohawks and chelseas!

PUNK IS ABOUT BEING DIFFERENT! IT'S ABOUT HAVING VOICE AND AN OPINION!

And it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, happy or sad, black or white, catholic or atheist. It doesn't matter if you live in a house, an apartment, a basement or on the street! PUNK ACCEPTS ANYBODY! ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY!

A) Music movement started in the 70's with multiple reasons and causes. There was an Americn and British Punk movement. Proto-punk bands such as Iggy Pop and the Stooges, the Motor City 5, and the Velvet Underground were influential in setting the stage for taking the risks bands like The Ramones, The Dictators, The New York Dolls, and Blondie did.

The British movement supposedly was started by one of the following: The ecnomic disaster that occured in the mid seventies, and the youth's lack of patience with the british government. A movement made out of boredom by Johnny Rotten, lead singer of the Sex Pistols.

This Movement caused the creation for most genres of music today, it's even represented in the roots of such types as hip hop, rap, pop, modern rock, goth, electro, two-tone. It did not create these genres, but it certainly kicked down the door for them.

B) Culture started in the 70's by the same music movement. The point of the culture was like the music, be yourself and disregard the angry emotions it may stir up. No longer a real culture, only a burned image with the values behind it lost, you can see it in stores such as Hot Topic. People No longer understand it was always about being yourself and not being anyone's shadow.

C) Modern Movement, characterized by some bands that have actually kept the movement alive, some by giving off the image, and pop-punk bands that are, regardless of what people want to say, in way of the Ramones and even the Misfits. Pop Punk is a very melodic form of punk, it's not " pop" because it's popular, it's pop because of the style of playing. Bands that try to sell an image alone with no true love for the music are the ones made fun of the most, with little or no time together before being popularized by mainstream tv. These are the same bands that promote a pre-made image that's ready to sell to a pre-teen to early adult demographic. For the most part it works, and this entire culture has been reffered to as " Mallcore" or " mallxcore," because these are the same people that have never heard of the Ramones or Sex Pistols but think they're punk because they shop at hot topic and listen to MTV's Flavor of the week " band." feel free to laugh at these people, most people who know what the music is about do.

The Current culture is in a sad state because it's focused on replicating the 70's instead of being itself. There are a few who understand it and refuse to subscribe to the image mold.

D) Music Structure. Many like to characterize this genre with Power chords only and simple drum beats. These People are complete and utter idiots and should be regarded as imbecils. They more than likely know nothing about music in the first place, or are just that type of idiot that doesn't understand other types of music can be good, and that music, like other things, is all about opinion. Punk has had it's fair share of complicated guitar solos, insane drumming performances, all while keeping a melody, which most " jam bands" sorely lack, along with talent and lyrical prowess. Many of the early punk bands did utilize simple chords and beats, but like all types of music, it branched out and has many styles, from simple to complex, traditional to exotic, it all has to do with where you're looking.

The wide-spread basic understanding/definition of “punk” includes a basic wanting to be different, is who is different.

A “real punk” will never stereotype themselves. To put this in perspective, have you ever heard a cheerleader say “Oh my god, I’m SO prep, that girl over there dressed in all pink is SUCH a wannabe poser.” … I doubt it…if you have, I pity you…greatly….for even knowing OF such a person. When someone’s says “Oh my god, look at that POSER!!!!” Does that honestly make them “punk” and therefore “cool?”

The name also came from punk rock. A form of hard-driving rock 'n' roll originating in the 1970s, characterized by harsh lyrics attacking conventional society and popular culture, and often expressing alienation and anger. Rock music with deliberately offensive lyrics expressing anger and social alienation; in part a reaction against progressive rock. (there are other definitions of this on this site way better than this one) This is what started the whole thing. But punk rock goes AGAINST stereotyping, (that would be the conventional society and popular culture) and calling oneself “punk” is just that.

There are “real punks” and posers. They ARE two separate categories. The above just proves that there are a LOT more posers then there appear to be.

First of all: “real punks”
“Real punks” are technically punk rockers.
A performer or follower of punk rock music.
However, in today’s hypo-heterogeneous music gene pool, there is hardly any real punk music, as a definition. It’s always “punk rock,” “punk pop” whatever. They all count. Punk (as defined above) is a type of music defined by LYRICS and ATTITUDE.

This means that punk rockers are listeners of punk music, with punk music categorized by the message the band is sending.

This is how we get posers.

“Punks” tend to dress a little crazy (crazy to “normal” people, the rest just think blue hair is cool) but it never really became a “fashion” until certain celebrities started calling it that. (Avril, Hilary)

Yes. Sadly, all those old school, before it became popular, punks were screwed over by, you guessing it, POPULAR CULTURE. Suddenly it became “cool” to be “punk.” To dress different, and do crazy things with ones hair and makeup.

This is not to say that everyone who does this, even younger people (and by younger I’m referring to people who couldn’t possibly have been punk rockers before, as in they weren’t born in the 1970’s,) are posers. You are a punk rocker if you listen to punk music. It doesn’t matter what you dress like.

How you DRESS has NOTHING to do with being punk. It means that either A) you honestly like the clothing style that has been termed “punk” and you wear it because of that or B) You’re a POSER trying to be cool and you think your clothes will do that for you and you’re no better than preps who obsess with clothes to become popular and think that other people’s clothing defines them just like it will define you as “punk” and “cool.”

Punks by definition, both above and social don’t WANT to be cool. They want to be themselves and rebel against anything they feel is suppressing them.

Posers are much easier to define them punks. Posers are people who pretend to be “punk” because they think it’ll make them “cool”

What I really want people to see is that by calling yourself a “punk” how much of a loser that makes you look. Claiming to be “punk” and calling other people “posers” does NOT mean you are a poser, I never said that, but if you think that it makes you “cool” to be “punk” and call other people “posers”, then you are. Realize that punk is NOT A FASHION STYLE, AND CLOTHING MEANS NOTHING WHAT-SO-EVER. Anyone who basis any judgment what someone is wearing and labels them from that is either a poser themselves or just a fucking rude and ignorant person.

The determination of punk vs. poser is not in CLOTHES or anything like that, but someone’s TRUE music preference and mindset regarding society and life.

Someone who likes music like that of the Ramones and/or the Casualties (punk music) and dresses however they want, doesn't care what people think of them, and who could care less about being famos and just wants to live.

punk is about not bein a punk
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think,say,do,be what you want
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listen to whatever fuckin music you like
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dress however you want to dress
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stop tryin to impress others so hard
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stop trying to fit into any one particular fucking category so hard as this is the most anti-establisment thing you can do is not let anybody define you and categorize you and label you
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You don't have to have a mohawk or tattoos or piercings,you don't have to do any motherfucking thing to fit in with any fucking body

Punk is not deifinitive. Its music, and whatever itmeans to a induvidial person.
Often a movement from the Punk Rock music, often a fast 3 chord style inspired of early rock n roll. However also element of ska and other genres is often seen. De definition punk came up in the late 70's but the music has ben alround probaly for decays, but the name was given after the English music magazine "punk" wich featured bands as patty smith and the sex pistols. Many bands such as Cock sparer (UK formed 1974) and the Ramones (usa formed 1974) is today considered punk. Gary bushel, English music journalist named certain punk bands "Oi!" (Cockney slang, means "Hey!" "hi!" or "hello!") However today the the punk, and most of all the SKinhead movement has taken this word and made it a aprt of their way of life. However it would be a matter of opinions wich band is a punk band and wich is an Oi! band. There has always ben political opinion invovled in punk lyrics, but not a certain parti political line. Many punk lyrics ex:
Ramones, I'm against it:
"I dont' like politics, I don't like communists, I don't like games and fun, I dont like anyone! And im against it!"

Cock sparrer, watch your back:

"We don't wanna be part of a new religion, we don't wanna be fooled with a swizz balde knife, We don't wanna be part of a political dream, just wanna get on living out life"

However other bands like Crass has clearly a string left ving political moment.

A band like the Exploited and the sex pistols, has posed with nazi symbols, but their lyrics are in no way right or particually left ving. It seems like a provocation against exstremists, both left and right and the casual person.

Both extreme left ving and extreme right ving punk bands have ben seen, but has not becomed a generel considered typical role model for people interested in the punk scene